Illia Dunes "Pack It In, Pack It Out" policy

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POMEROY, WA - As college students get ready for summer, they'll be happy to hear that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is allowing alcohol at the Illia Dunes, but there's a new limitation they'll have to worry about.

Last August, the dunes were temporarily closed after college students left thousands of pounds of trash along the beach. This year, parking will only be allowed in two nearby lots, limiting the amount of vehicles to 120 cars, and the amount of people to about 500.

"In late August with that weekend with the trash incident, we had about 3,000 people, and obviously the trash got out of hand," saidU.S. Army Corps of Engineers Spokesperson Bruce Henrickson.

In the past, visitors have parked along the access roads, making it difficult for cars, pedestrians, and emergency vehicles to pass. The Corps will also be enforcing their "pack it in, pack it out" policy, and continue to monitor how well visitors keep glass containers off the beach, consume alcohol responsibly, and follow the posted rules.The Corps says if visitors don't cooperate, they'll ban alcohol altogether.